Dumping device for concrete mixers



2 SHEETS SHEET 1.

J. C. FRENCH.

DUMPING DEVICE FOR CONCRETE MIXERS.

FILED SEPT.23,1920.

l l I l I l l I l l l I l I l I 1 l numw 0 MN QN M h m 1..

Jan. 30, 192-3.

Jan. 30, 1928. 1,443,788; 1. c. FRENCH.

DUMPlNG DEVICE FOR CONCRETE MIXERS.

men SEPT.23,1920. 2 SHEETSSHEET z.

Patented Jan. 30, 1923.

UNITED" srA TEs I r JAMES c. FRENCH, or musxneon, MICHIGAN; ASSIGNOR 'ro AUSTIN MACHINERY CORPORATION, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, A CORPORATION'OF ILLINOIS.

DUMPING DEVICE FOR CONCRETE MIXERS.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JAMES C. FRENCH, a citizen of the United States, residing in Muskegon in the county of Muske'gon and State of lWichigan, have invented a new andnseful Improvement in Dumping Devices for Concrete Mixers, ofwhich the following is a specification.

My invention relatesin general to mixing machines for concrete and the like, and more particularly to means for operating and controlling the discharge spout in such a machine.

It has been-especially difiicult, in the manufacture of machines of this kind, to provide means for controlling the movement of the dischargespout, particularly when the mixer is loaded and in action, due to the weight and shocks of the material against said spout.

It is a principal object of my invention to overcome this difliculty by the provision of power means for moving the spout from closed to discharging position and-for automatically looking it in the exact position desired.

Another object of the invention is the provision, in connection. with operating means of this character. of a control .for positively locking the discharge spout in closed position during the mixing action and preventing accidental, or ill-timed operation thereof.

A further important object of the invention is the provision of means for-connecting the operative: members of the device with a power mechanism at exactly the desired time to accomplish the results just stated, and means to terminate the action of said members when the automatic locking action takesplace. I

A still further object of the invention is the provision of a device of the kind described, which is easily opejrated and sure in action and which is simply constructed, and the parts of which are unlikely to require frequent repair or replacement.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent as it is better understood from the following description when considered in connection with the accompanying drawing illustrating a preferred embodiment thereof.

Referring to the drawings:

Figure 1 is a partially schematic end elevation of a mixer equipped with my invention;

Fig. 2 is a sectional View taken on the line 2-2 in Fig. 1; v

Fig. 3 is an enlargedsection of the power mechanism by which the device is operated;

and v Fig. 4 is an enlarged fragmentary viewof the cam locking member showing the means of operation.

In the embodiment ofmy invention illus trated by the drawings, reference numeral- 11 indicates a concrete mixer having its discharging sp0ut-12 shown both in closed position 13 and in discharging position 14. It will be seen that the device is intended to be used with mixing machines of the non-tilt.- ing type which require movement of the spout to permit discharging of the contents. The type here shown is a standard cube mixer. Upon the spout is a lever 15 rigidly secured to a rod 16 mounted im a bracket 16' which is attached to the discharge spout,

and having a pivotal connection at 17 with a connecting rod 18. This'rod has a similar connection at '19 with a crank arm 21 on a shaft 22 of an operating and cam lockingmember 23.

This member 23 is revolved by means of a gear 24 attached thereto, which meshes with a worm 25 me. bearing 26 retaining the end of a drive shaft 27. The other end 28 of said shaft has a beveled gear 29 loose thereon and constantly turned by a gear 31 operated by the main power mechanism. Slidably keyed to the shaft 27, near the portion thereofvon which the beveled gear 29 revolves, is a cone clutch member 32 adapted to be engaged with a companion friction part 33 on said gear when it is desired to move the discharging spout. A pivoted arm 34 is attached to the clutch 'in suchmanner that operation of a hand lever 35, which connects with said arm through a connecting rod 36, will cause said clutch to connect with the gear 29, thereby turning the shaft 27 and transmitting power to the member 23. It will be readily understood,that, instead of using a hand lever for this purpose, meansoperating automatically upon the completion ,of a certain number of revolutions of the roller 39 adapted tofit in recesses 41 in the the member 23 to revolve, thereby moving the discharge spoutfrom-closed to discharging position, or vice versa. As this movement is taking place, the roller 39. is pressed against the peripheral surface of said member'by a spring 43 having one end attached to the operating lever and the other to a supporting member 44. This spring con-\ tact, of course, may be effected in any suitable Way, the arrangement just described being merely a convenient illustration. The

recesses 41 are situated upon opposite sides of the member 23 so that when one-half of "a revolution, which moves the spout from one position to the other, is completed the roller 39 drops into one of said recesses.

This draws theclutch 33 out of contact with the gear 29, thereby terminating the revolving action of the member 23. The movement of the spout, obviously, is thereby arrested and it is locked firmly in the position which it has then assumed. It will remain so locked until the clutch is again thrown in by operation of the hand lever or other control'used. In this manner an effective locking deviceis provided, which will hold the spout in either closed or dischargrangement of the parts without departing ing position so long as desired, and this even though the material in the mixer be in continual action.

It is evident also that the object set forth above, of automatically disconnecting the op erative members of the device from the power mechanism and stopping movement of the spout at exactly the point desired, is fully accomplished by the construction just described.

The apparatus may be mounted upon the frame .45 which supports the mixer in any suitable manner to obtain the relation of the parts required for the automatic action previously described. p

The effect'of my device is to greatlyincrease the rapidity and accuracy of action of concrete mixing machines of this type, and it is believed that it constitutes a distinct and manifest improvement in the art.

It is thought that the invention and many of its attendant advantages will be understood from the foregoing description, and it vwill be apparent that various changes may be .made in the form, construction and'arfrom the spirit and scope of the invention or sacrificingall of its material advantages, the form hereinbefore described being merely a preferred embodiment thereof.

I claim:

1. In a mixing machine, the combination of a discharging spout and power operatmares means for connecting said dlsk'. with said driving meansto operate the spout.

2. In a mixing machine, the combination of a discharging spout and power operating means therefor, said means comprising a recessed operating disk, means operatively connecting said disk with said discharging spout, means normally locking the disk in predetermined position, means for disengaging said locking means, power driving mechanism, and means -whereby disengagement of said locking means operativelv connects said disk with said driving mechanism and throws the spout.

3. In a mixing machine, the combination ofa discharging spout and power operating means therefor, said means comprising a normally locked operating member, means operatively connecting said member with said discharging spout, power driving mechanism, and means for simultaneously releasing said operating member and connecting the same with said driving mechanism to operate the spout.

4. In a mixing machine, the combination of a discharging spout and power operating means therefor, said means comprising power drivingmechanism, spout operating devices between said spout and said power mechanism and normally disconnected from the latter, and means for connecting said operating devices with said power mechanism for operation of the spout.

5. In a mixing machine, the combination of a discharging spout and power operating means therefor, said means comprising a rotatable operating member, connections between said member and said spout whereby rotation of saidmember operates the spout, said member being normally inoperative, a saurce of power, and means for connecting said member with the power when it is desired to operate the discharge spout.

6. In a mixing machine, the combination of a discharging spout and. power operating means therefor, said means comprising a recessed disk, operating connections between said disk and the spout, power driving mechanism,and means-for operatively con necting said disk with said power mechanism, said last-mentioned means being normally held out of connection with said power mechanism and having a part engaging in a recess of said disk and'being moviae tween said disk and the spout, power driving mechanism, and means for operatively connecting said disk with said power mechanism, said last-mentioned means being normally held out of connection with said power mechanism and having a part engaging in a recess of said disk and being mov- S. In a mixing machine, the combination of a discharging spout and power operating means therefor, said means comprising a rotatable operating member, means operatively connecting said member with said spout, power driving mechanism, means for operatively connecting said member with said mechanism for operation of the spout, said means being automatically operable to disconnect said operating member from said power mechanism upon completion of the movement of the spout.

9. In a mixing machine, the combination of a discharging spout and power operating means therefor, said means comprising a rotatable operating member, means for oper-. atively connecting said member with said power driving mechanism, means for operatively conntcting said member with said mechanism for operation of the spout, and means controlled by the rotation of said member for disconnecting it from said power mechanism.

10. In a mixing machine, the combination of a spout and operating means therefor, said means comprising an operating and control member, means operatively connecting said member with said spout, driving mechanism, and means for connecting said member and said mechanism and for disconnecting said parts after predetermined movement of the spout.

11. In a mixing machine, the combination of a discharge spout, power means for operating said spout, means for operatively connecting the spout to said power means and for automatically disconnecting it after pre determined movement thereof.

12. In a mixing machine, the combination of a discharge spout, a source of power for operating said spout, manually operated means for connecting said spout to said source ofpOwe-r for operation thereof, and means for automatically controlling said last-mentioned means I to disconnect the spout from said source of power upon predetermined movement thereof.

13. In a mixing machine, the combination of a discharge spout, a rotatable operating disk having recesses in the periphery thereof, means for operatively connecting said disk with said spout, power driving mechanism, a driving connection between said disk and said mechanism, clutch mechanism for connecting said driving connec- 1 tion with said power mechanism, and means spring-held against the periphery of said disk and adapted to enter a; recess therein to open said clutch mechanism.

14. In a mixing machine, the combination of a dischargespout, a rotatable operating disk having recesses in the periphery thereof, means for operatively connecting said disk with said spout, power driving mechanism, a driving connection between said disk and said mechanism, clutch mechanism for connecting said driving connection with.

said power mechanism, means for closing said clutch mechanism to operate the spout, and means connected with said clutch mechanism and engaging the peripher of the disk for entering a'recess of said isk after predetermined rotation thereof and automatically opening said clutch.

15. In a mixing machine, the combination of a discharge spout, a source of power, an operating disk, means for connecting said disk with said spout whereby rotation of the disk operates the spout, clutch mechanism for connecting said disk with said source of power, and means controlled by the rotation of said disk' for disconnecting said clutch mechanism upon predetermined movement of the spout.

JAMES C. FRENCH, 

